New lunch item

First lets say my goal this year is to do more...work out more(eat less lol), coupon and save money more, and BLOG more. I have so much to blog about I just don't, moving right before the holidays and have a big family probably doesn't help that...
Anyhow today marks day 12 that my kids haven't been in school, means there's been 12 days of "what am I going to make for lunch?" Everyone is worn out on frozen pizza, chicken nuggets, and sandwiches so I called up (texted) my dear friend Sarah who's a daycare provider/child guru and asked her for something. She had told me about the bake before and of course it was on a "mommy's night out" so I couldn't remember lol. This is how she has it: Jiffy cornbread, 1 can of corn(don't drain), 2cups of shredded cheddar, and 1 egg. Combine and sprinkle some cut up hotdogs on top. The. put in a 9x9 pan and bake at 350 for 30min(give or take). I only had about a cup and a half of Monterey Jack so I used that and added some salt and pepper. And I had about 4 hotdogs left from a few weeks ago when I made pigs-in-a-blanket (blog about it later), 4 seemed to work out and didn't over do it (4 kids, 4 hotdogs :))


*ok edit, I had to cook this for 45 minutes but the kids loved it! The boys had 2 helpings, and yes I ate some too cuz it smelled so yummy!

(Excuse the quality phone picture I have here)

Paranoid me

So I'm a little freakish...ok maybe a lot freakish. I don't really know why or how this started, and maybe it's always been this way. I mean I did cry every first day of school until 2nd grade, so yea it's probably just a life long thing. Anyhow let's list the ways I'm a little...abnormal...1) I hate going anywhere I won't know someone. This includes job interviews, craft fairs, classes, kids school(getting better about this), sometimes doctors offices, baby showers, weddings(the last two I usually only know the host and that freaks me out, who am I gonna talk to?!), and probably many other places. 2)I HATE calling businesses, customer support I'm usually ok, calling a lawyer, setting up services like electricity, or asking about a bill, sometimes calling the doctor for an appointment if I don't really know if it's necessary, things like that. I sometimes make josh call kids in sick to school because I get nervous to do it myself, like I'll get in trouble...it's weird I know! 3) I fear letting my kids play outside alone. Deathly afraid of it. The oldest is almost 7, I played outside by myself at that age, crossed the street, etc...not my kids. If I can't see them out the window I go on a hunt. Who know what will happen?! 4) I fear people in general, anywhere from the maintenance guy to the parks and rec people. If I'm alone with the kids and I'm afraid someone will attack me leave my kids stranded and alone. Better yet, I'm afraid they'll take my kid while my back is turned and I won't be able to catch them. my doors are always locked, which actually didn't start till Josh started saying something about it. Now I'm afraid someone will walk in while I'm in the bathroom or something. I'm crazy..maybe...I don't know, I don't watch the news because it's always bad, not do I read the paper. And the only articles I do read are when people post them on fb usually those are horror stories of some sort too. I only really watch sci-fy or doctor shows so I know it doesnt stem from that. I don't know, paranoid, delusional, it's something weird. Josh laughs at me which doesnt help. But honestly, if this world wasnt so f*d up maybe some of my fears would be non existent. The phone call thing...I don't know how to get over that. I'll probably just stay crazy :). Am I the only weirdo out there? Oh here's some cute pics from the park yesterday in which I thought the parks and rec guy might decide to suffocate us with the trash bags he was using to change the trash cans...yea I'm paranoid!

Eating healthy?!

I really struggle with weight, not maintaining it, I can maintain my semi unhealthy status all on my own, but losing it is a struggle. I literally have to work out every day for 45 minutes a day, eat 1200 calories or less and absolutely no sugar for a week just to lose a couple lbs. sounds ok for a single person who doesn't have 4 children and a husband a long with an endless list of chores. So this week I've decided to change eating habits. Not dieting because clearly I can't stick to that. And I know its not a miracle weight loss solution, that's not what I'm looking for though. I'm just wanting to eat better. So for lunches I'm eating what the kids eat, minus the chips, this includes a simple sandwich of ham and cheese, a little bit of mayo(because I can't eat a dry sandwich), pb&j, etc. today is a chicken strip on top of salad greens and a tsp of ranch. Yea...a tsp of ranch! Can I just say I hate salad? Lol seriously unless it's loaded with crap I can't stand it. But I'm bound to be healthy if not skinny so I grin and bare it. we'll see how this goes...earlier this week I was 189 and today I'm 187.6, so maybe it's working...maybe. Just gotta stick with it I suppose...

Been awhile...

...Since Ive blogged or talked to anyone really other than family. These past couple months have been extremely rough and most days I question how I'm going to make it to the next. And of course it all started on my birthday. That's the last time I heard my dad's voice, well that's the last time I heard him and he sounded ok, healthy even. No wait, that was the day before my birthday, like he knew he wouldn't get the chance and called me a day early to sing happy birthday to me. On my birthday he went to the hospital for the last time. He spent most of that week in ICU, his potassium levels and a whole bunch of other levels I can't remember, were all way off. The next week the moved him off of ICU which "they don't do unless he's getting better". Yea, he didn't get better. He got worse. He went home on hospice on Thursday, August 30. I spent that night with him, slept in his bed with him, next to his frail body and listened to his raspy breathing all night. The next morning he was up and about all morning, with assistance of course. And I of course was the only one strong enough to care or him, and the only one with any medical experience to know what I was doing. So I helped him shower, go to the bathroom, all that good stuff. And continued to do so for the next 3 days. Fortunately I have an amazing husband to take care of my kids so that I could do this. Sunday dad seemed ok, he was up ALL day and I missed my kids so I made the decision to go home. And my dad...I could tell he didn't want me to. I could tell he just needed me to be there but he knew I had to go home. The last thing he said to me was "make sure you come back." and of course I was coming back. My intention was to come back that Tuesday. Unfortunately, even though I did come back, he wasn't there.
Mom had called me Monday at 5ish to tell me they'd be reading him his last rites at 7. There was just no way I could make it. I couldnt leave dinner on the stove, I needed to feel like a mom for the day, once again I decided to put my family before my dad. I know that's what he'd have wanted but I still beat myself up over it a lot. A whole lot....Anyhow that night mom called me so I could talk to him. He'd been sleeping all day so she just held the phone to his ear, and I cried, and I begged him to wait till I got back, begged him to still be there so I could see him one last time. The only sound on the other end was his labored breathing, the pain in his breath will resound in my ears for years to come. I know he was listening, I know he tried, but at 3:11am my phone rang; my mom crying saying "he's gone". It was the worst thing Id ever heard. I never thought my heart could hurt so much. I never thought I'd love my dad so much.
The funeral was that Friday in a small cemetery in the middle of no where. He has a nice little spot near a creek and he'll certainly be left alone like he wanted to be. We'll go see him soon, sometime around Thanksgiving, and I'll cry, and my kids will see me hurt, and I hate that but I want them to be there with me. If it werent for them, and my husband I would never have made it through this. My dad was one of my best friends. Losing him was losing my confidant, the person I could call when everyone in the world had pissed me off and he'd listen, and he always had a solution or something funny to say to make it better. Now all I have is a voicemail, a happy, healthy sounding voicemail from the 10th of August hoping I was having fun in Vegas. If I'm having a rough day and the world seems to be crashing down on all sides of me, I call my voicemail. Maybe that's silly and childish, but I need to be able to hear him.
It's been awhile since I've been ok and able to spend some time on my thoughts. I'm finally ready to start talking about it with more people and not just my mom or husband. I may need to post more in the next week or so about this, just to get it off my chest so bare with me.

National Lampoons got it wrong

Thursday we flew out of Grand Island and flew to Vegas for a few days with a wonderful group of friends. We pretty much expected it to be an expensive trip and never intended to gamble too much, which I stayed under $20, Josh was about $50, not bad at all. Anyhow, when you picture Vegas you can only picture it the way you see it on tv, I usually picture the way National Lampoons showed it, it is so not that way. First of all, you don't have camera crews to clear the crowds of people out of your way so you have to shuffle through all the weirdos, the smellies, the overly dressed, and the kids...yes the kids!! Who brings their toddlers to Vegas?! Second, there was maybe 2 cars even worth gambling for. I mean a car is a car I know, but even the cars I consider worthy of my money were Mustangs, no Corvettes or drop tops of any sort. Then there's the drinks, umm I gambled and NEVER got a drink!! Never!! I paid for each an every $6 beer until the last night when the bar was serving $3 drinks, I can handle that. Fortunately they have these nifty joints throughout the city in which you can refill your cup with delicious icy alcoholic drinks,$9 for 32oz, again not bad! Although I recommend a mug or cup, not one of those long skinny drinks with a straw. A)there's no lid, b)its kind of a hassle to walk around with, and c) it's not likely you'll bring it home. I like souvenirs so I spent the few extra dollars to have a neat little car mug I could take home.

                                             

 

Ok let's talk location. We stayed at the Stratosphere. I was pretty impressed. Plenty to do, lots of shops and dinning, and plenty of gambling as well. Plus the rooms were nice. We were on a non-smoking floor but I'm pretty sure there was someone smoking near us as I could smell it every now and again. Now if you have no other plans, stay there, however if you want to walk the strip...dont!! Sure there's the tram but you have to walk a mile to get there, not bad if you go in the morning, but once you've walked the strip all day you'll dread walking back to the hotel. However hanging out in the salt water pool the next day totally makes up for it, there's a bar, cute little waitresses passing out sample shots, floaties, volleyball net in the water, cabanas, and more. Oh and sun, there's plenty of sun, I got quite red the 2 hours I was outside Saturday afternoon. I'd definitely stay again if I didn't intend to go anywhere else.

                                                                   

 

All in all, I think we had a pretty good time. It was nice to get away from the kids for awhile and do adult things, drink all day, and not have to change ANY diapers. Josh did piss me off one morning over breakfast but I was over it after swimming for a little while. But if you want to have a lot of fun make sure you bring a lot of money. My biggest regret was not saving enough to see shows or go gambling. And take friends that like to have the same kind of fun you do. We had a pretty great bunch with us this trip and I'd totally go again with them. So thanks Johnson and Gowin's families for being an amazing bunch!! 

End of the Season!!

Love Scentsy, I don't know if I'll ever not love Scentsy, and REALLY love Scentsy when everything goes on sale for a month!! This month, 10% off everything (with a few exclusions). Plus this months warmer and scent of the month are amazing, also both 10% off!! https://mamasully.scentsy.us/Scentsy/Home

Continue your pink pepper journey with
Neverland. Sunny geranium, glowing pink
pepper, and toasty cedar in a deliciously
outdoorsy fragrance.

Whoot!

Also here's the discontinued list for the month! Items may or may not return next spring.

Grocery shopping plan!!

I'm so sick of going to the grocery store, absolutely sick of it. Every week we go multiple times, usually i forget something or I just don't take the time to figure out what I need before going so right now I'm making a huge list, huge!! of things we don't have, are almost out of, meals to eat, things that I can reuse and for what meals (flour, sugar, etc), how many of each I need for the month, and what I have in coupons so I can save a little money. I just printed off $22 in savings, that's not a whole lot when it comes to a family of 4 but we need to start somewhere! I don't have time to sift through sale ads and see who has what for the cheapest (if anyone wants to do it for me, please, be my guest). I also don't want to go to 5 different stores so I have my one stop shop, Wally World, down the street. It has better prices than most place I go to, although Baker's does have a shoppers card I get confused in that store and they don't carry everything I want/need. Anyhow, here's the sources I've been using for coupons...actually, here's my pin from pinterest of sources that I use for coupons :) http://www.crystalandcomp.com/coupon-resources/ lots and lots and lots of places to go.LOTS!!!